Natural Hair Care

Tired of that dried out feeling your hair gets after a shampoo? You’re not alone! One of the things about being natural is finding products and methods that actually make sense to put into our hair. Cleansing properly and penetrating product build up is a must but we shouldn’t have to give up the moisture in our hair to do it. Move over shampoos, natural ingredient are taking back the game. These two natural alternatives are the way forward read on to find out why!

All natural ingredient soap bars

These are a seriously underutilized cleansing method across the board. Natural soaps are made with very little man made substance if any at all, and with moisture absorbing softening ingredients like glycerin you can’t go wrong. Not only do they provide excellent ingredients but they also work just as well at cleansing as shampoo does! My favorite soap to use is African Black Soap but I’m still experimenting. The ingredients include plantain, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves, shea tree bark, coconut oil, palm oil and shea butter. Great stuff right! There are many other natural soap bars that have an entire list of awesome ingredients, so there’s no excuse not to try some of them out. These soap bars are packed with nutrients and are great for the skin as well just take your pick based on the needs of your hair and reap the benefits.

Benefits I’ve noticed:

Seriously clean hair

Light fluffy hair (haven’t pinpointed exactly why but love it!)

Less rinses

Cost effective

Longer lasting product

How to know if it’s all natural

Ingredients checking if you can’t pronounce half of them it’s not natural

Appearance (will look unprocessed and at times like a bar of throw up, just being real)

Apple cider vinegar

The one the only! This is probably the O.G. of cleansing products, not only is it a superb cleanser but it is also very moisturizing and contains choice ingredients such as vitamins B1, B2, B6 and biotin. If you haven’t already added this to your tool kit you’re missing out big time! This has been the most effective at washing out any and all product. When shopping for apple cider vinegar look for a murky appearance this will ensure that it is indeed organic. Also look for Apple Cider Vinegar “with Mother” on the label this means that it still contains enzymes and strands of protein. “Braggs” is an excellent brand to refer to for use.

Benefits I’ve noticed:

Shiny hair after use

Very, very, very, one more time, VERY clean hair (cuts cleansing time in half)

Safe for roots so really massage it in to help loosen product/dirt for best results

Careful with getting this in your eyes in the shower!

Look for a murky appearance to ensure it’s organic and unfiltered

Everything isn’t for everyone and when it comes to you hair you should be choosy and experiment wisely. Shampoo alternatives that are effective and not harmful are few and far between, that’s why it’s best to go the natural route. After all, Queen Nefertiti wasn’t using Head & Shoulders! No shade though H&S but nature always knows best. Try out these methods and let us know how they’ve worked for you and any hidden gems that you’ve found along the way.

Hot oil treatments are such an underrated practice but a universal one at the same time. Most of us have been getting them since we were little with our candy bows and relaxers but did you ever know exactly what they’re for in the first place? In researching you’ll probably find that there’s a lot of myths and unknown facts on just how beneficial hot oil treatments really are. After weeks of research & personal experimentation I am pleased to share my knowledge on the subject. Here are some facts and busted myths about hot oil treatments.

What’s the purpose?

Hot oil treatments are used to deeply penetrate and strengthen the hair. When you heat an oil and apply it to the hair and scalp the heat causes pores to open and the outer layer of your hair shaft to do the same. Thereby letting the beneficial properties the oil that you’re using contains to distribute and penetrate effectively which is where the magic happens.

How do they help the hair & scalp?

In the way that every natural needs, it’s a super moisturizing tool! Different oils have different strengths and benefits so be sure to do your research so that you can give your hair it’s perfect match depending on what your curls need. For an itchy scalp try peppermint infused castor oil, argan oil or almond oil. Peppermint works very well at stimulating the scalp while the other two oils mentioned are light weight moisturizers that effortlessly move through the scalp. Especially almond oil, this stuff ran down my forehead so much that I had to carry a towel with me until I tweaked my portion control. I live in Texas ya’ll ain’t nobody got time for that!

Do they really make your hair stronger?

Yes! The simple fact being that certain oils carry hair strengthening properties and once you add a little heat to the equation it can penetrate the hair all the better. Oils like Jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil have wonderful strengthening properties.

Do they actually make your hair grow longer?

Hair growth is attributed to many different things one of those being the health of your scalp. Hot oil treatments are highly beneficial for the scalp so yes, yes YES!

How often should you do them?

You can do them as little as twice a month or once every week. It is a treatment so like any other process depending upon what your hair needs, giving yourself a treatment once every week is a great start. Going forward, let your hair’s response be the judge. If there is vast improvement every two weeks should be enough but at the end of the day give your hair what it needs. It will definitely let you know what it likes. Keep in mind that you are using heat so moderation is always key!

How do they specifically help natural hair?

Curly hair is thirsty and the thicker it is the more TLC it needs. It’s difficult to get the much needed oil that we produce naturally (sebum) evenly dispersed over every strand so we need a little more effort to effectively moisturize. A Hot Oil Treatment is a powerful tool when it comes to feeding your hair the moisture that it needs making this method the ultimate cheat code in our fight against dry and brittle hair!

What oils are best?

For Maximum hydration:

Raw shea butter (this needs to be melted beforehand for best results)

Jojoba oil

Argan oil (trial first for thicker hair as this is more of a match for 4a hair and up)

Almond oil

For stronger softer hair:

Extra virgin olive oil

Castor oil

Avocado oil

Organic coconut oil

**There are many, many others but I’ve only listed the ones that I have personally used and witnessed actual results from repeated use. Happy experimenting ladies there are too many other great oils to stop here!

How do I do a Hot Oil Treatment?

Now that you have a little more info about the benefits and process we can finally get to the how to!

Shampoo your hair, your hair needs to be clean so no clutter is causing a barrier between your hair/scalp & the oil

Next, depending on how dry your hair is or feels after your shampoo use a deep conditioner, this can be your favorite product or mix of natural ingredients. Wash out well!

Heat up your oil, you can do this by placing it in a container and setting it in water that has come to a boil.

After you’ve heated your oil, take your oil and apply it to your scalp massaging it in with your fingers or scalp massager. Apply the oil from root to tip being sure to take your time to administer the oil evenly.

Choose your method of heat. I prefer placing a bag over my head and sitting under a steamer if you’re thinking of performing the treatment weekly to give your hair a little cushion against the frequent heat. You can go the traditional route and sit under a dryer as well. Whichever you prefer.

Next, set a timer for 20 minutes and relax!

Rinse out the treatment well and proceed with your next few wash day steps.

Thicker oils may be hard to wash out and could leave residue to combat this use a bit of diluted apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle to help loosen up the oil. Performing this practice consecutively will yield excellent results and improve the health, look and feel of your hair. Rememeber to explore and experiment with oils they truly are a natural’s best friend!

Life in this day and age moves fast and seems to speed up a little bit more every year. Which is where fast food culture and getting what you need on the go reigns supreme. Although at times these little habits are unavoidable they do begin to take their toll on things like our energy, waist lines and our hair. These easy tips will help you keep on top of the health of your hair while you’re moving and shaking in the world because after all healthy hair starts from within.

Water intake

This tip is a great big duh these days but it’s amazing how many naturals are not on top of their daily water intake (myself included). This is essential for several reasons, not only does your hair draw from the water content in your body but it also benefits from the detoxifying properties of your body cleansing itself. Everything that we consume shows up in our hair and the more water we drink the better our bodies are at ridding themselves of impurities. After I began putting better effort forward with my water intake I saw results in the way my curls felt after taking down a protective style and in my curl definition down to my edges!

Natural Detoxes

I wasn’t too convinced at first on this one because there really isn’t any concrete research on how effective this is for hair growth but through my own experience I found that natural detoxes gave my body an excellent boostand my hair and nails responded accordingly. I use aloe vera juice and water to flush my system out, there are other awesome natural detoxesbut this one is an easy favorite of mine. I recommend this for those who have a diet high in animal protein. Although protein is essential for building strong hair, protein in take from animal meat requires a cleanse here and there to keep the colon operating at full capacity. The colon aids in nutrient absorption so keeping this area running smoothly will have a direct impact on the functionality and health of your natural hair.

Vitamins

Vitamins are essential and honestly do the entire body good. Vitamins A, B and C are all excellent to add to your health regimen. Vitamin A is essential for cell growth point blank, cells can’t do their thing without this little gem you can get it from carrots, spinach and kale. Vitamn B better known as Biotin is the best vitamin for hair and nail growth hands down! I loved using this but didn’t like what it was doing with the rest of the hair on my body that’s already thick enough on it’s own. You can find vitamin B in liver, fish, crab and red meat. If you’re vegetarian consider a supplement instead. Vitamin C helps to create the protein collagen which is apart of the very structure that makes up each strand of hair on your head! Great sources of this vitamin include peppers and citrus fruits like oranges.

The More Fresh Foods the Better

Last but certainly not least is the amount of fresh foods you’re eating on a daily basis. Your body needs fresh foods and vegetables every single day to keep every part of you healthy. It’s easy to get fast food throughout the week when your schedule calls for it but making a mental note to eat something freshly prepared everyday should be the goal. I’d say implementing this step in the foods you snack on will yield great results especially for those who experience hair loss and breakage. Look for snack foods that promote healthy hair and cell growth like broccoli, brussel sprouts and strawberries. The list goes on!

Once you find your stride in eating more and more fresh ingredients everyday your body will feel amazing and you’ll never look back. We must remember to take care of ourselves as we make our way through this fast paced jungle we call life. We must battle the push of fast food, quick and cheap fulfillment and everyday distractions, take care of your body and it will take care of you!

Ahhh, the scalp. Probably one of the most forgotten about parts of our hair which is actually where healthy hair begins. I’ve recently began exploring just how important this is and making a few changes and I must say the difference is pretty noticeable! Read on to learn why it’s important to stimulate your scalp and how it can hold the golden spot in your natural hair care routine.

What it does:

Stimulating your scalp helps circulate blood flow which in turn causes hair growth. There is a network of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) all over your scalp that act as a collection and distribution point for vital nutrients. Therefore by stimulating your scalp you increase blood flow and that constant supply of nutrient rich supplements to your hair.

How You Do It:

The key here is to massage the scalp I’ve found that using a Denman Shower Brush works best for me instead of my finger tips. If I’m using this in the shower I pull down on the hair and place the brush at my roots and rotate my hand in a circular motion using my fingers to make the teeth of the comb rotate like a spinning top. I do not recommend picking up the brush and physically moving it in circles the brush should not leave your scalp let the teeth do the work! I go around that section of my head twice. For use on dry hair section off your hair and use this method. This video is simple and easy to follow and uses the same method that I use in the shower. Many also use essential oils like peppermint and almond oil which invigorates the scalp and helps to kick start stimulation even further.

The Denman Shower Brush Itself:

The brush is small and very good value for money, I bought mine for less than £4. I’m not sure how much it would cost in dollars but I believe that they are more than fairly priced. It also comes in several colors and slips right onto your hand easily for a comfortable fit. The bristles are a hard plastic like material and are extremely flexible, they also soften under warm water and feel amazing when used in the shower especially. You will become addicted to using this brush!

Benefits:

Softer hair from root to tip: I noticed this one after I got done massaging an area of my hair in the shower, I’m not sure if it loosened up some of my own natural sebum and caused it to run over my hair in the shower but whatever it did my hair feels softer all over!

Excellent Shampoo/Conditioner distributer: Using this tool after I’ve applied my shampoo and conditioner caused the break up of buildup on my scalp and gave me that fresh super clean scalp feeling.

It feels Amazing!!!! I can’t describe how good it feels but I did start salivating in the shower that should say enough. You can also feel the blood flow increase to your scalp which feels equally just as good.

Sparse areas will begin to fill in: As the paragraph above states it does have a direct effect on hair growth if you don’t want to go through the trouble of an entire head massage at least do it to the areas of your hair that are sparse or thinning the results will astound you.

Helps with itchy scalp: Most of the time your scalp itches from either a load of buildup on your scalp or from lack of moisture. This brush helps clear buildup away and distributes conditioner really well. Two birds, one stone!

How Often Should You Do It:

I’ve read some articles that recommend scalp stimulation as much as up to twice a day! I however, do it whenever I feel like it. I would say a regular scalp massage with finger tips can be done up to twice a day, if you’re using this brush maybe a few times a week or spaced out throughout the month it’s all about how your own scalp reacts to it.

Precautions When Using This Tool:

For those with a tighter curl pattern I do not recommend using this as a normal brushing tool even in the shower. The tiny teeth of this brush rake through and can cause tangles. Overall, try it out and see if it can work for you. Also be aware of the circular motions you should not be lifting the comb off of your head but rather rotating the teeth on your scalp. Last but not least always detangle before using this brush and remember to pull down on loose hair so that your curls won’t get pulled upwards into the circular motion.

This practice is great for anyone that is looking for a new addition to their natural hair care routine. Keep track of your results and let us know we’d love to hear if this tip worked out for you and the health of your hair!

As naturals the health of our hair thrives on a strict moisture routine that most of us have down perfectly. Each of our regimens maybe slightly different but they all serve the same purpose; to keep our curls juicy and soft. Recently while watching one of my favorite natural hair Youtubers Naptural85 I noticed that depending on the style she was going for she would apply certain hair products directly after she washed her hair while she was still in the shower. Naturally, I then adopted this practice and noticed that it actually works really well! Read on to discover how to achieve super defined hair by applying products while your still in the shower.

1.This trick works best if you wash your hair in sections and plat or twist them back up as you go. Wash your hair as normal and after your hair is clean apply whatever oil you would use to seal with directly afterwards. Olive oil works the best for me as it leaves a nice shine and leaves the hair feeling soft and easy to detangle. Be sure to rinse out excess oil for best results!

For the next following steps it just depends on your desired style:

Read steps 2A. and onwards for a wash and go, or 2B.and onwards for a style that will require twisting.

Wash & Go Styling Steps:

2A. After you’ve applied your oil that seals next you’ll want to apply a curl defining cream that gives you your best definition be sure to focus on your ends especially. If your hair feels pretty soft at this point you can skip this step but place a bit at your ends.

2A1.Next apply whatever gel you would normally use to top off your curl definition and as usual with a wash and go you’ll want to apply the gel generously. Be sure to really work it in from root to tip. If your hair starts to become dry wet it again under the shower head. Once your hair begins to dry frizz will appear, the objective is it to coat the hair with gel while it’s wet, defined and frizz free!

2A2.Next step out of the shower, you should now have generously wet hair that’s full of product and your curl pattern should be highly visible. If you spot frizz your hair may not be completely clean or have enough gel. Grab an old t-shirt and place it around the sections of your hair, try not to rub the hair but pat and dab it dry.

2A3.Next you can either use a diffuser or just let your hair air dry. If you’re a heat free natural and will not be using a diffuser use bobby pins to hold down areas of your hair for less shrinkage. If you’re using a diffuser be sure to do the same to fight shrinkage by pulling down on your roots as you dry your hair. After your hair has dried you should have a very fluffy and defined twist out!

Twist out Styling Steps:

2B.After you’ve applied your oil that seals and have rinsed out any excess oil your next step will be to apply a styling pudding to your hair use a comb to gently rake the product through the hair from root to tip. Do this all over each section of hair.

2B1. Next, apply whatever gel or holding pudding you’d normally use as the final step of your twist out paying special attention to your ends. It’s best to stay near your shower incase your hair becomes dry as you will need to wet your hair again to eliminates any frizz.

2B2.Begin twisting your hair in your desired style being sure to flat twist (<<start video at 1:28) at the roots to stretch the hair for maximum length.

2B3. Once you’re done twisting wrap your hair in a t-shirt depending on how wet it is for 20 minutes or until moderately damp. If your hair feels not so damp skip this step. Tie your hair up as usual once you’ve removed the t-shirt and voila you’ll have a super defined twist out!

These steps are an ingenious way to truly eliminate frizz and take your next hairstyle to the next level. I plan to start keeping oils and styling products in the shower with me from now on. I hope this styling practice works out as great for you as it has for me!

As we proceed to enter into the warmest part of the year (gladly) it will be easier to tell where we were lacking when it comes to our entire body. For me, if I didn’t moisturise my skin properly while it was cold it shows up underneath the blazing sun in the form of overly dry lips and rough skin. However, your hair has a mind of it’s own and will in its own way send you signals on it’s health and state. Here are subtle signs to look for that will suggest if your winter regimen wasn’t moisturising enough for your natural hair.

Itchy & Dry Scalp

Even after you’ve washed your hair and conditioned it your scalp feels itchy. This could be due to a number of reasons but if it’s happening out of nowhere then it usually means you’re lacking moisture and often it starts with what you’re doing in the shower. Try to stay away from cleansing shampoos and be sure to use oils with your co-wash.

Dry Uncurling Ends

Your ends will always be a tell all when it comes to the health of your hair. They’re the ones that need the most attention and act as a compass for whatever routine you’re currently into. If they’re not curling up at the ends when styling that twist out that’s usually fabulous then it’s a definite moisture problem. Try mixing up some natural ingredients and placing them on the ends of your hair. Follow up by placinga bag over it to really penetrate your ends. A great mix would include anything with avocado, banana, honey, and shea butter or all of the above!

Highly Porous Hair

If your hair’s porosity has changed it could mean a few things but if you notice it during the changing of seasons then it points to moisture loss. Your hair’s porosity is a very important factor and can tell you exactly what’s going on. If you’ve recently had tons of moisture loss your hair will go into survival mode and begin to hold in whatever moisture it gets meaning, that getting more moisture to the hair shaft can be harder. Read up on a previous post to learn more about your hair’s porosityand why it’s important.

Easily Tangles

Depending on how tight your curl pattern is tangles and knots are more prone to happen but one sign of moisture depraved hair is hair that tangles even when wet. Your hair shaft can take on many appearances but the most prominent one is when its fighting for moisture. The hair won’t be as likely to slip because any products as well as water will just sit on the top of your hair due to drastic changes of moisture intake= highly porous hair.

Change In Definition When Styling

It wouldn’t be easy to tell with this sign, especially if you kept your hair tucked away in a protective style for most of the colder season but as soon as you take it down and proceed to style your hair you’ll def notice this difference straight away. Moisturised hair is easy to style and is extremely agile and open to manipulation. This will be one of the first signs to be noticed if your hair hasn’t been properly moisturised for a while. It will limply hang in a twist out and will barely have any definition and will appear overly frizzy.

The Feel of Your Hair Is Different

Lastly, every natural that really pays attention to the health of their hair knows when something’s off. When your hair begins to feel different it’s always time to reevaluate what you’re doing with it. A tell all sign for my hair is when I put products on it and it feels like the equivalent of oiled straw. It’s like I can feel my hair through the product in a way. This is a very important sign and should NEVER be ignored. I find that not using harsh cleansers and just co-washing weekly and doing a deep conditioner with a steamer does the trick.

These signs are all equally important and should be handled with a “sure thing” solution. I hope that none of you natural will be witnessing any of these as we emerge into afro and twist out season!

The weather is heating up as spring has crept upon us to give that pre summer tease. This also means no more hiding those ends in a low maintenance protective style you’ve been rocking all winter, that’s right. It’s afro season again! I felt bold in the cold this year and wore my afro out and I was loving every minute of it! I had to battle some harsh dryness because of this but I’m thankful because it led me to find and create some simple tips and tricks that kept my curls less prone to knots, tangles and breakage. Read on to learn how I keep knots and tangles out of my afro for longer wear with these 4 simple tips.

1. Start an afro from an old twist out or bun where the hair has been stretched and your curls are still clumped together. This is something I’ve always done, not only will this help with knots but your hair will have easily achieved uniformity. Old twist outs are great because you won’t have to do much to puff out your hair and clumped together curls are less likely to tangle or become tangled. An old bun hair style works as well because this hair style stretches the hair and leaves it tangle free because every strand was going in the same direction.

2. Before I go to sleep at night I put my hair into two sections with two pony tail holders and bantu knot the ends. This not only stretches my hair but also keeps my curls going in the same direction and away from one another so I’m not mashing them down when sleeping on them and creating tangles as I toss and turn. After a few nights I no longer bantu knot my hair instead I loosely twist the hair and wrap them around the pony tail holders. This keeps curls fresher lookingmand gives the ends a nice curl which makes for a cute afro. I also place a scarf around my hair covering the two puffs as well and then follow up with a satin bonnet cap.

3. In the morning I take my hair out of the two sections and put oil and curl definer on my hands and take bits of my hair from each section and moisturise them as I go, essentially shaping my afro. For those with longer hair I suggest using castor oil on your ends or whatever oil you usually use to seal with. This will create a barrier between your ends and your clothes.

4. Lastly, when wearing my hair in an afro for prolonged amounts of time I never use picks or combs. Every time I’ve ever used one they’ve caused knots to form as well as breakage. My curl pattern is very tight so when I use a pick or comb all it does is removes any clumped curls and causes them to frizz out. Don’t get me wrong an afro is all about using the frizz to create big beautiful hair but hair that is clumped together doesn’t become tangled so when you remove those clumped curls you allow more strands to do their own thing. This is where the knots and tangles are introduced.

The afro is big bold and beautiful and the ultimate expression in natural hair styling and if you treat it right it will return the favor. I hope these 4 tips help you as much as they’ve helped me!

With this practice your next wash day could be a breeze with this simple and easy method that leaves your hair feeling fully moisturised, soft and easy to manipulate. There’s that moment in everyone’s wash day routine where you have to choose between spending those much needed hours carrying out your routine or an activity. However, what would happen if after you’ve washed your hair, you did nothing but slap on a bag, found something to cover it and followed with a cream or oil a little later? Here’s how to shorten your next wash day:

1. First you start off with your co-wash, I used a little olive oil with my conditioner to be sure that my hair had ton’s of slip and was softened. This method may not yield the same effect on shampooed hair.

2. After your hair is washed and put a bag on along with a beanie or scarf over it to make sure that there is very little air escaping and you can get going to your engagement.

3. Next, you’re free to leave the bag on for as long as you’d like! Be sure to make sure that your hair is only allowed to dry enough to feel damp.

4. After you’ve left the bag on for a while (1-4 hours/after your engagement is over), follow up with your favourite oil and cream. A leave in-conditioner isn’t necessary but if you really want to, feel free to apply it before you place the bag on. Applying a leave in may effect the way your hair feels and dries. For those with thicker hair be sure to use a cream or oil that is thick enough to fully coats your hair. I used Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter followed with Almond Oil and Coconut Oil.

That’s it! Your hair will feel soft and extremely agile.

This method is great for when you’re prepping to rock a bun! I usually twist my hair up into sections while applying my hair products and once my hair is coated I wrap them into bantu knots. By doing this your hair will be very stretched, soft and ready to be pulled into a fantastic bun. This method will make your hair super soft and moisturised for when you don’t have enough time for a full days work on your hair!

The cold weather is biting at your ends and you’re probably doing the best you can to holding on to every drop of moisture you’re putting into your hair. This winter has definitely been a season full of buns and I was amongst that crowd. I’ve been wearing a ninja bun for more than a few months now and have discovered some quirks and mistakes that you wouldn’t think of at first glance. Keeping up natural hair is work but after you’ve fought with your coils and curls to get them into that bun you’re probably going to want to keep it up for as long as you can. Here’s what I’ve learned as far as bun maintenance with my natural hair.

Super tight buns are the devil

At first I was after that super sleek look where not a single hair was out of place so I kept my hair in a tight bun. As time went on I began to discover breakage but only in specific areas of my head/hair. I kept my eye on it and realised that the breakage was coming from pressure points where my hair would naturally be tightly pulled from the pressure of the hair band. These areas included the hair growing above my temples, middle of my forehead and at the back of my head. So instead I began to set my bun not so directly in the middle of my head but more towards the front . This alleviated pressure and looked even more stylish.

Breakage points caused by stress from tight buns

Use a boar brush to reduce frizz

Boar brushes are great for achieving sleek hair with little frizz but overusing them can also be harmful and cause the hair to break due to how harsh and rough the bristles are. When I use this brush I make sure that I do so on very moisturised and detangled hair. Otherwise you’ll end up pulling hair upwards and causing knots to form where the curls aren’t stretched and detangling will be a nightmare.

Achieving & keeping sleek flat hair

For those with super thick hair getting it all into a bun can be frustrating enough but the key is to weigh your hair down from root to tip. Use a hair lotion as well as a cream, the thicker in consistency the better. My favourite product to use, while not containing a ton of natural ingredients is Organic Root Olive Oil Moisturising Hair Lotion. It lays my hair down like gel and once I brush it through it leaves my hair flattened, agile and easy to manipulate. Keeping your hair from getting frizzy is a matter of how you tie up your hair, I use two scarves one that I tie frontwards and the other backwards for extra hold.

Getting that classic bun look

The key to getting the hair that is sticking out of the hair band into a bun is making sure that it is poofy and that there are hardly any defined curls. This will ensure that your hair can be easily manipulated into creating your desired bun. I find that working with hair that isn’t super weighed down in product at the ends makes it easier (depending on how voluminous your ideal style is). Remember the more weighed down your hair is the smaller the bun will be.

These tips are very simple yet very effective, and will hopefully lead to an amazingly well kept bun. The seasons are changing and soon it will be the perfect weather for afro’s and bikini’s but until then keep those ends moisturised and tucked away!

I wanted to record my product reviews using video but the laziness I feel today is beyond measure. However I am excited to write about this product by African Pride as I love trying out low cost products that actually do what they say. I’ve tried a few products from the African Pride line and none have impressed me as much as this one has. Here is my experience with the African Pride, Olive Miracle Leave in Conditioner.

Was it moisturising?

It’s hard to say, I have a lot of different practices that I do on my wash day to ensure my hair is moisturised and there was no dramatic difference in using this product. However the texture of this product was light, watery and creamy and my hair really soaked it in. I also noticed that it gave me excellent slip.

Ingredients?

Most of the ingredients weren’t natural and contained mineral oil as well as sulfates. It contained an ingredient that made it smell very sweet which I found pleasant.

Results

My hair did stay moisturised for a very long time with this as my leave in conditioner and was super easy to detangle with.

Price

It is a very low priced item, I bought this for less than £5 so the value for your money is pretty good.

Cons

When it says “leave in” it literally means LEAVE IN. On my next wash day I did a co-wash using conditioner only and discovered that I had this milky like feeling in my hair as if there was still a ton of product in it. As I began to finger detangle in the shower I realised that every glob of this leave in conditioner I put in my hair was perfectly intact and barely budging. It was the strangest thing because it was also still in clumps. I ended up having to use shampoo to wash it out completely which I wasn’t happy with but hey, no real harm done.

What couldn’t come out of my hair during my co-wash

Pros

It smells delicious and definitely does moisturise your hair. It works very well with the L.O.C. Method and it’s super inexpensive and provides excellent slip.

Overall

I give it a pass! I’m all for saving money when you don’t have the extra funds for the all natural expensive products that do what this product does only with less ingredients that you can actually keep in your hair for long periods of time. The only thing I’d encourage is using this when you have an amazing cleanser that won’t dry your hair out as this doesn’t wash out easily. Other than that a big thumbs up!

About Me

Natural hair and all things concerned has been an absolute passion of mine since before I went natural almost 3 years ago. By no means do I claim to know it all I’m just one natural sharing my knowledge and journey with another. Let me help you in your journey if I can, I’m your Natural Hair Genie! Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions and if you wish to keep up with what I’m doing follow me on Instagram @squishanator and Twitter @naturalhairCG